With just seven minutes remaining, FC Dallas was clinging to a 1-0 lead and looking to hang on for a victory against Chivas USA in their 2008 MLS season opener Sunday at Pizza Hut Park.
The Hoops had taken the lead thanks to a 21st-minute goal by Juan Toja, but Chivas USA forward Maykel Galindo took advantage of a defensive misplay in the 84th minute to leave the teams with a 1-1 tie.
"I think a tie was probably a fair result but we should have had three points," FCD head coach Steve Morrow said after the match. "Giving up a goal so late was very disappointing but overall, Chivas played very well. Both teams had a lot of chances. We had three very good chances in the first half. Overall, I think we can play better. We have some guys that need to get fit and come back as well."
For FCD striker Abe Thompson, allowing the late tying goal was a bit unsettling.
"Yes, it's definitely disappointing," he said. "We had our chances and didn't take them. We got tired there at the end but that wouldn't have mattered if we had scored a couple later in the game. We can't get too down. This is the first game of the season and we have a long way to go. We'll analyze the game in the next few days and get ready for Houston."
Toja's goal came after Thompson laid the ball off to him about eight yards from the Chivas USA goal. The Colombian international then turned and hit a nice, left-footed blast into the far side of the net. Toja started in the five-man midfield for FCD, but left the match in the 73rd minute for Dax McCarty.
"We only expected Toja to go 60 or 70 minutes maximum," Morrow said. "So I think he was a little tired toward the end. But he gave us 60 good minutes and he's another one that, when he builds up his match fitness, will only get better for us."
Both sides had four shots apiece at the break. But in the second frame, Chivas USA outshot the Hoops 18-4 with seven of those on frame to FCD's one. Morrow clearly wasn't happy with that development.
"We didn't possess the ball well in the first half and chased it around too much," he said. "That took a lot of our legs going into the second half. We'll just be happy with the point, move on to the next one and continue to improve."
Galindo's tying score was set up after FCD center back Duilio Davino, the club's marquee signing of the offseason, misplayed a ball off the side of his foot at the edge of the Hoops penalty area. Galindo pounced on the loose ball and sent a low drive through the legs of 'keeper Dario Sala from inside the restraining arc for the 84th minute leveller.
Even with Davino's gaffe, Morrow offered a fairly positive assessment of the performance of the former Mexican international in his home debut for FCD.
"I think Davino made one slip toward the end of the game, but otherwise, I think he had a solid game for us," Morrow said. "It was very unfortunate that he made one mistake and that it cost us toward the end of the game. But he will get better."
Davino didn't have much to say about his miscue that helped lead to the draw.
"I know that's how the defensive position is," he said. "Sometimes one error can cost you the game. I felt better than I even thought I would after missing quite a few days from training. Taking away the error from the goal, I think that I did well and that my level will continue improving."
For Thompson, the draw came down to one simple issue -- fitness, or a lack thereof.
"I think we got tired," he said. "That was the first day since we began training that it was that hot and I'm not sure that we were ready for it."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
